SPANISH WAR

Hokitika Guardian, 9 April 1937, Page 5

SPANISH WAR

+ BRITISH PROTEST

GENERAL FRANCO EXPLAINS.

(United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

(Received this day at 2.5 pun.) LONDON, April 8

When the commander of the British cruiser, Shropshire, accompanied by Vice-Consul at Palma called on the War Admiral and Colonel Franco, commander of the air forces at Majorca, with reference to the attack on the destroyer, Gallant, the insurgent representatives explained that they sent three land planes to attack Government destroyers which were reported to he operating between Valencia and Alicante. It is conceivable they unfortunately mistook the Gallant tor a Government warship. The military Government has sent a message greatly regretting, if Nationalist aircraft were to blame. General Franco meanwhile instructed aircraft to take the greatest care to examine the identity marks of vessels before taking hostile action.

MOLA’S THREAT

VALENCIA, April 7

The loyalists completely ignored Mola’s aerial warning that he would lay waste the Basque provinces in default of surrender.

VALENCIA, April 7

The rebels in the north assert that they buried 876 loyalists and took 1,076 prisoners, of whom 116 were scut .to hospital, the remainder being court-martialled and sentenced to death, if it were proved that they bore arms.

A REBEL DEFEAT

VALENCIA, April 7

Details of the battle of 5 uia Hnrta indicate it was so far the most, severe rebel defeat, on this front. The insurgents fled in disorder, and loyalists killed 400 and captured 300, and secured a large quantity of guns and ammunition and four German tanks. '\ he rebel leader, Guillermo Uardia, fled, Rut was overtaken and killed.

AUTHORS’ PROTEST

LONDON, April 8. Thirty loading British authors, members of tho Foil Club cabled to Genoral Franco, expressing amazement at the violation of the rights of press correspondents, by the arrest and continued imprisonment at Malaga of Arthur Koestler, representative ol the. “News-Chronicle,” and urging investi- \ gah'on without delay, and his release and repatriation.